KANSAS CITY, Kan., Aug. 7, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Aratana Therapeutics, Inc. (NASDAQ: PETX), a pet therapeutics company focused on licensing, developing and commercializing innovative biopharmaceutical products for cats, dogs and other companion animals, today announced that it has appointed Irvine O. Hockaday, Jr. to its Board of Directors where he will also serve on the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee. Mr. Hockaday brings extensive executive and board leadership experience that includes serving on the boards of Ford Motor, Sprint and Dow Jones, among others, and as President and CEO of Hallmark Cards and Kansas City Southern Industries.

Jay Lichter, Ph.D., Chairman of the Board of Aratana Therapeutics, stated, "We are proud to have Mr. Hockaday join our Board, where his diverse background and leadership will significantly enhance the collective expertise at Aratana. We have been fortunate to be able to attract a strong and accomplished Board comprised of leaders with proven track records ranging from developing globally important human and animal health therapeutics, building a global animal health organization, strengthening and innovating consumer brands and finance. The addition of Irv to our Board brings a distinct set of global leadership experiences and marks an important point in Aratana's maturation as a company and evolution of a public company board."

Mr. Hockaday remarked, "I am excited to join Aratana Therapeutics, particularly at this stage in the company's evolution. I hope my experience working with established, global companies will be beneficial given Aratana's growth trajectory, and I look forward to helping to catalyze and support those efforts as the company continues to advance its industry-leading business."

Irvine Hockaday is retired President and Chief Executive Officer of Hallmark Cards, Inc. Prior to joining Hallmark in 1983, Mr. Hockaday served as president and chief executive officer of Kansas City Southern Industries, Inc. He was a member of the Hallmark board of directors from 1978 through 2001. Mr. Hockaday is lead director of The Estee Lauder Companies, Inc. and chair of its audit committee, and is a former director or lead director of Crown Media Holdings, Inc., Dow Jones & Company, Inc., Ford Motor Company and Sprint Nextel Corporation. He currently holds various civic positions including trustee of the Hall Family Foundation and board member of Kansas City Area Life Sciences Institute and has previously served as chairman of the board of the Tenth District Federal Reserve Bank. He graduated with an A.B. in English from Princeton University in 1958 and from the University of Michigan Law School with a J.D. in 1961.

About Aratana Therapeutics, Inc.Aratana Therapeutics is a pet therapeutics company focused on licensing, developing and commercializing innovative biopharmaceutical products for cats, dogs and other companion animals. Aratana believes that it can leverage the investment in the human biopharmaceutical industry to bring therapeutics to pets in a capital and time efficient manner. The company's pipeline includes more than fifteen therapeutic candidates targeting pain, inappetence, cancer, viral diseases, allergy and other serious medical conditions. Aratana believes the development and commercialization of these therapeutics will permit veterinarians and pet owners to manage pets' medical needs safely and effectively, resulting in longer and improved quality of life for pets. For more information, please visit www.aratana.com.